Expanded role is sought

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Pedro Martinez likely will be sitting on the media bench as “Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez” at this time next season after a first-ballot selection for Cooperstown.

For now, he’s “Red Sox Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez,” elected last month along with Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra, and broadcaster Joe Castiglione.

But that’s good enough. Martinez hopes to take a more active role in the development of young pitchers in the Red Sox organization through his role as special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington.

“I want to be more involved with the players,” said Martinez. “I would like to do a little bit less of the public appearances that they had me doing last year.